Cathode disintegration apparatus



Oct. 29, 1940.- B, BERGHAUS E1'. AL 2,219,613

cA'rHoDE nIsI-NTEGRATION APPARATUS Filed latch. 20, 1939 vPatented Oct.29, 1940 CATHODE DISINTEGRATION APPARATUS Bernhard Berghaus,Berlin-Lankwitz, and `Wil helm Burkhardt, Berlin-Grunewald, Germany;said Burkhardt assignor to said Berghaus Application March 20, 1939,Serial No. 263,074 In Germany March 24, 1938 4 Claims. (Cl. Z50-27.5)

The invention relates to a lead-in conductor for cathode disintegration,the characteristic for cathode disintegration apparatus, the charfeatureof which is, that the metallic cooled wall acteristic feature of whichis that the insulating of the vessel constitutes the cathode andsurmaterial is protected by a gap against any atrounds the insulatedconductor of the anode, on 5 tack by the gas discharge. The inventionalso all sides, at such a short distance that no glow l relates to aninsulated lead-in conductor for discharge can take place in the free gapbetween metal vacuum vessels of cathode disintegration the two. Theextension of the gap may be apparatus, the characteristic feature ofwhich is formed by an' insulator provided with a correthat, between theconductor and the insulator spending recess. The anode conductor mayalso there is provided all around such a narrow gap be provided with ametal cap which forms a nar- 10 that no glow discharge can take placetherein row gap with the cooled metal wall of the vessel with theexisting vacuum and the voltage which acting as a cathode. Between thecooled anode is applied. The distance of the insulator from the lead-inconductor and the cathode metal wall conductor is less than ten andpreferably between of the vessel there may be providedran insulated,

3 and 0.1 millimeters. Moreover the gap is prefmetal, neutral or anodescreening through the 15 erably made of labyrinth shape, in order tomake interposition of a protective gap. In the case of it difficult forthe charge carriers to penetrate an anode metallic intermediatescreening the therein from the vacuum space, the length of the middlecooled lead-in may also be neutral. Furprotective gap being a multipleof its width. ther, the insulator may surround the conductor Theinsulator preferably consists of a material so as to abut against it. Inthis way it is at- 20 having a high fusing point, preferably over 1200?tained that the insulator is cooled at the same C., such as quartz,porcelain, sintered bodies of time as the conductor is cooled. Theinsulator alumina, zirconium oxide, thorium oxide, magmay abut againstthe cooled wall of the vessel nesium oxide, beryllium oxide or the like.The fOrmlng the CalShOde lll Sllh a manner that, be-

insulator may, for instance, consist of a quartz tween the insulator andthe lead-in conductor, 25 tube. there remains a narrow gap. In this casethe 'I'he insulator preferably surrounds the concooling of the insulatoris effected by the cathode ductor. However, the conductor may partlysurwall of the vessel. Moreover, the lllSlllBtOr may round theinsulator. The conductor is preferably be S0 arranged between the cooledwall of the 3l) made capable of being cooled. Similarly the invesselwhich forms the cathode and the anode 30 sulator may be provided withcooling means. conductor that there remains a narrow Sap be- Thesemeasures are essentlal when large elect'een it and the OliduCtOr, asWell as between it trical energies are to be supplied to the vacuum andthe COOlcd Wall 0f the Vessel.

3 vessel which entail a corresponding development The Present inventionavoids the diillculties of heat, The insulator may advantageously behitherto encountered with such anode lead-in surrounded by a metalcovering wholly or partly. Conductors Owing t0 the undesirable 810W andIt is also advisable to provide between the insual'C discharges all thepoints Where the lead-in lator and its metallic covering such a narrowgap conductors enter into the vessel, which would that no gio'wdischarge can take place therein. otherwise leed tc the destruction ofthe sealing 40 The invention also relates to an insulated leadandinsulating materiel. The lead-in conductor 4o in conductor, preferablyfor a cathode, the char- SHOWS POWSIS 0f (Wer 100 kW fOr Voltages Of afew acteristic feature of which is that, between the thousand volts tobe reliably supplied to vacuum insulator surrounding the conductor andthe conapparatus of any desired construction in which duotor which abutsagainst it, there 1s provided the Well cf the vessel forms permanently0r tema protective gap which opens into the vacuum pOIarlly the cathode.A direct or alternating 45 space and is narrower than the width of thecurrent voltage may be applied to the lead-in glow fringe formed in thevacuum space around COndllCtOlthe cathode. Between the insulator and themet- The accompanying drawing illustrates by way al wall of the vesselwhich is preferably cooled OfXemDle three different forms ofconstruction there may also be provided a narrow protective according t0the invention, FiguresI 1, 2 and 3 50 gap. In this way the starting of adetrimental being Sectional elevations of different construcglow or arcdischarge at the point where the tions of lead-in conductor of acathodedisintegrainsulator abuts against the metal is avoided. tion apparatus.

The invention also relates to a lead-in con- Referring to Figure 1, theconductor 4 is inductor for the anode o1' a metal vacuum vessel troducedinto the vacuum space through the wall 55 i oi -the vacuum vessel, whichis provided with cooling channels and 3. The insulated metal leadinconductor is, for instance, made hollow, so as to be capable of beingcooled, a. cooling medium being introduced through the pipe S anddischarged through the pipe l. The conductor is surrounded on all sidesby an insulator i9, which may, for instance, be a quartz tube, in such amanner that, between the conductor and the insulator, there remains sucha narrow gap 2l that no glow discharge can take place therein. I arepacking rings for rendering the insulator I2 airtight. I3 is aninsulating and clamping ring which is clamped on by insulated screws ldsurrounded by an insulation I5. The quartz tube is surrounded at itslower end by the cooled metal Wall I5 of the vacuum vessel. Theconductor is provided with a screwed-in metal cap I'l, which partlysurrounds with its part i8 the insulator I9 at a short distance so thata gap 2U is left in between, which, together with the gap 2l, forms alabyrinth gap.

Referring to Figure 2, the conductor da. is introduced into the vacuumspace through the wall i, which is provided with cooling channels 2 and3. The insulated metal lead-in is, for instance; made hollow and capableof being cooled; the cooling medium may be supplied through the pipe 6and be discharged through the pipe l. 'I'he conductor 4a is surroundedby an insulator 8, for instance, a porcelain insulator abutting againstit, and between the insulator and the conductor there is provided a gap9 which is, for instance, curved. The insulator- 8 may be cemented onthe conductor, for instance, by an elastic cement. i I are lead orcopper parts which are provided in order to obtain a uniform pressurestress on the insulator. Between the insulator t and the cooled metalwall of the vessel there is further provided a second protective gapl2a; i3a is an insulating member, Ia a sealing member, for instance ofrubber, I5a an insulating ring and Ita a metal screw nut.

The characteristic feature oi the anode lead-in conductor according toFigure 3 is that the insulator @il abuts in such a manner against thecooled wall il of the vessel which forms the cathode in such a mannerthat, between the insulator and the lead-in conductor there remains anarrow gap 62. In this case the insulator is cooled by the wall of thevessel.

What we claim is:

1. In apparatus for coating articles by cathode disintegration, a metalhousing wall having an opening therein, a hollow insulating memberhaving a tubular portion with the periphery thereof engaging the housingwithin said opening, a hollow coolable metal conductor extending intothe housing through said insulating member, means carried by the innerend of said conductor having an annular skirt covering the inner end ofthe insulating member and spaced garanzie therefrom at such a smalldistance as to prevent a glow dischargewithin the housing from takingplace in said space, means arranged outside said housing for insulatingand sealing said conductor with respect to said housing wall, and saidhousing wall having channels therein adjacent said opening for receivinga cooling medium.

2. In apparatus for coating articles by cathode disintegration, a metalhousing wall having an opening -therein and an arcuated shaped recess inthe inner face thereof adjacent said opening, an insulating memberhaving an axial passage nextending therethrough, said insulating memberhaving a tubular end portion with the periphery thereof engaging saidhousing wall Within said opening, an end portion of said insulatingmember adjacent said tubular portion being arcuated shaped and extendinginto said recess and spaced from the housing Wall providing the recess,a hollow conductor extending into the housing through said passage andengaging said insulating member, means carried by the conductorcoveringthe inner end of the insulating member, and means for cooling saidhollow conductor so as .to carry heat away from the insulating memberand the conductor.

3. In apparatus for coating articles by cathode disintegration, a metalhousing wall having an opening therein and an arcuated shaped recess inthe inner face thereof adjacent said opening, an insulating memberhaving an axial passage extending therethrough, said insulating memberhaving a tubular end portion with the periphery thereof engaging saidhousing wall within said opening, an end portion of said insulatingmember adjacent said tubular portion being arcuated shaped and extendinginto said recess and spaced from the housing wall providing the recess.a hollow conductor extending into the housing through said passage andengaging said insulating member, means for cooling said hollow conductorso as 'to carry heat away from the insulating member and the conductor,and said housing wall adjacent said opening having channels therein forreceiving a cooling medium.

a. In apparatus for coating articles by cathode disintegration, a metalhousing Wall having an opening therein, a tubular insulating memberextending through said opening with the periphery engaging said housingwithin the opening, a metal conductor extending into the housing throughsaid insulating member, means arranged outside said housing for sealingsaid insulating member and said conductor with respect to said housingwall, a cap member carried by said conductor covering the inner end ofthe insulating member, and said housing wall having channels thereinadjacent said opening for receiving a cooling medium Ito carry heat awayfrom said insulating member.

BERNHARD BERGHAUS.

BURKHARDT.

